2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 20: Julie King

A-Glamping We Will Go: 5th Annual National Crochet Month Blog Tour

Welcome to Crochetville’s fifth annual National Crochet Month (NatCroMo) blog tour, taking place each day of March 2017. Join us for a month of virtual glamping (aka glamorous camping), as we visit crochet designers, crochet-friendly local yarn stores, and yarn companies, as well as offer some fun giveaways.

Today’s Posts: Melinda Miller | Pam Dajczak | Julie King | Daily Giveaway

Want to Chat about the Tour?

Part of the fun of glamping is the daily round-up around the campfire, chatting and stitching with friends. We hope you’ll join us in our NatCroMo Facebook group, where we’ll be sharing daily camping recipes, campfire songs about crochet, and so much more! We’d also love to hear about your favorite things you’ve discovered on the tour and see photos of your current crochet projects. You’re invited to join us daily for virtual cocktails/appetizers and dinner. (We’ll be sharing links to some fabulous recipes!)

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Julie King, GleefulThings

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Julie King with us today, March 20, as one of the featured designers on our 2017 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).

About Julie:

I’m Julie, a crochet designer from Southern California. Best known for my slouchy hat and barefoot sandal designs, I strive to create patterns that you’ll love to make and wear! I started designing and selling my own crochet patterns in 2006, around the time I discovered Etsy, just a couple years after I learned to crochet. I started blogging and designing full time in 2010. I’m currently working on my first book (beanies & slouchy hats) and also spend a lot of time creating videos to teach crochet.

Do you crochet in public? If so, when and where?

I love to crochet in public! Most often, I crochet at the beach. Any day that the weather is nice, I’ll find an excuse to crochet outdoors! I tend to carry a project with me most of the time and will bust it out whenever I am. Parks, coffee shops, bars. I used to be shy about it but don’t really care anymore, I find it’s a good conversation starter.

Do you have a special place at home where you crochet? Tell us about it.

Not really but I do love to crochet in bed while watching Netflix.

Share the story of your favorite thing you’ve ever crocheted or designed.

My favorite thing I’ve designed is probably my XOXO Kimono. I had designed lots of hats and accessories and really wanted to get into garment designs. The XOXO Kimono was my first. It has a very beachy, boho feel to it, which is a style I’m really inspired by so I was very happy with how it turned out!

Tell us about any other fiber-related hobbies you enjoy.

For about a year, I’ve been spinning yarn with a drop spindle. I love to make funky thick and thin yarns! I find it relaxing and love the idea of being able to make my own unique yarn! I also like to try knitting every now and then but haven’t spent enough time on it to get very good. Definitely a goal for the future though!

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

I get name ideas in a lot of different ways. Sometimes a stitch will remind me of something. Sometimes I name the pattern after where I was when I made it, where I photographed it, or just a place it reminds me of. I even have patterns named after what I was drinking at the time!

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

My most popular pattern recently has been my Point The Way Pullover. It’s a simple, oversized pullover that’s constructed in one piece. It’s made with bulky yarn so it whips up quick and is still pretty cozy despite the open stitch pattern.

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

Recently my favorite place to camp has been Joshua Tree. It’s close enough to me that it can be a quick weekend getaway, so that makes it easy to go often. Being in the desert, it gets really hot during the day so I like to wake up early to hike and explore and then spend the day in the shade, usually crocheting!

What is your favorite camping tip?

Meal prep! It’s easy to have good food if you prepare ahead of time. I like to cook and then freeze things at home so that when I’m camping, I just have to heat things over the fire rather than worry about fully cooking a meal because that can be a challenge sometimes if it’s dark and you only have a camp fire to work with.

What is your favorite camping snack/meal/recipe?

The meal that I’m always asked to make is meatball sandwiches. They’re easy to make and yummy!

– Precooked/frozen meatballs
– Sourdough bread or rolls
– Pasta sauce
– Cheese

Just put them together, wrap in foil and put it in the fire or over a grill.

Tell us about any crochet items you take to “glam up” your camping experience.

I always wear my crochet hats at night to stay cozy. And I love using my crocheted beer cozies!

Visit Julie’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

I’m starting a new series on my blog called “Gone Crocheting” where I’ll share all of the places I camp & crochet. I’m also offering a $2 off coupon: “natcromo” for my Ravelry store that is good through the end of the month.

Julie’s Designs:

If you’re not familiar with my work already, I’d like to share three of my designs with you.

1. Beachcomber Basket, Beachcomber Basket

A simple basket with pretty textures that is great for holding all sorts of things! Fill it with yarn to store your latest crochet project, use it as a fruit basket in the kitchen, keep it in the bathroom to hold washcloths, or on your vanity table to organize make up! It looks great with leather handles which are simple and easy to make or if you’d prefer a crocheted handle, that is included in the pattern as well!

2. Seafoam Beach Backpack, $5.00

With this pattern, you can create a tri-colored, lacy backpack that is perfect for carrying your towel and other essentials to the beach this summer! This design uses a simple repeating stitch pattern that’s easy to memorize. Perfect for road trips, days at the beach and other times when you can’t give crocheting 100% of your attention!

3. Pineapple Coconut Slouchy Hat, $4.00

A very pretty, lacy slouchy hat that is very quick to make and doesn’t require a lot of yarn. The open, lacy design gives it lots of stretch! I had plenty of room to stuff all of my hair into it (awesome for bad hair days!), and it could probably even accommodate short dreads! Made with light worsted weight yarn.